Intro:
I had the opportunity to review the Ohto Rook thanks to the generousity of Straits Pen. The Ohto Rook is a slim pocket fountain pen. I initially had problem uncapping the pen because I didn't know where I should pull. It seems that I wasn't the only one having such an issue with the pen. However once I have learnt where to pull it wasn't a problem anymore.

Appearence:
The Ohto Rook I have reviewed is the silver with orange accents. I like the colour combination, it makes for a striking pen. It is a short pen when capped, making it the perfect pocket fountain pen. The cap comes off easily once you know where to pull. I can use the fountain pen unposted but for people with larger hands, all you have to do is to post the cap and you will have a full length fountain pen. The Ohto Rook is slim so it might be a little uncomfortable for those who prefer pens with a wider girth. The Rook has a long grip section that's smooth and comfortable to hold. In my experience using the Rook, the grip section wasn't slippery in my hand when I write.

The branding on the pen is really small and understated. All you can find is the word "Rook" printed on the cap. My OCD kicks in when I look at it because the text wasn't aligned with the clip but that's just a quibble.

The bottom of the barrel unscrewed out and that's where you install your cartridges or converter to the Rook. The Rook uses standard international cartridges. If you prefer using bottled ink you have to get their special mini converter. I have tried a regular standard international converter it didn't fit in the short body of the Rook. If you didn't want to spring for the converter you can always refill the cartridges with the bottled ink of your choice. However the ink capacity is defintely not something to phone home about.

Performance:
The Rook comes in only one nib size. It writes very much like a european fine. (I've compared the line width with my TWSBI F nib.) The nib is a nail so don't expect any line variation with it. Other than that the iridium point nib is smooth and great to write with.

Conclusion:
If you are looking for a pocket fountain pen this is a strong contender to your pocket space. Though the traditional choice is the Kaweco Sport, I feel the Ohto Rook is a great alternative. It is more affordable and better looking than the Kaweco Sport. It is a fun pen all around.

Giveaway

Straits Pen have kindly sponsored a giveaway for the Ohto Rook. This giveaway is limited to people residing in Singapore. All you have to do is to leave me a comment here on the blog post. I'll pick a random number to win this great little pen! The giveaway ends December 4th 11.59PM. The giveaway is now closed.